Wilson's Product Manager Visits with Staff

Jacquie (left) with cs staff Ebony Hall

Jim (left) with Paul Hughes (Ump-Attire.com product manager) and Jacquie

Wilson's product manager Jacquie Rooney traveled from Chicago to talk to staff about possible future developments and to receive product feedback and insights.

The day was highlighted by a pizza lunch, a roundtable discussion with all staff and a visit to a University of Louisville baseball game.

Umpire Camp in SE Michigan Provides Warm Welcome

Jim, James Hoye and Bill Parker

Bill Parker, the director of the Southeast Michigan Umpires Camp, and Brandon Cooper, our field sales rep were roommates at the PBUC evaluation course several years ago. Through that connection, Bill invited us to attend and for me to speak at their annual umpire camp in Livonia, Michigan over the February 17th weekend.

We were the first vendor outside of Michigan who had ever been asked to participate, and it was our first trip to the state.

Despite the usually cold temperatures in Michigan this time of year, the weather was mild and the welcome was very warm. Here are some highlights from my perspective:

Bill Parker speaks to group

The camp boasted around 130 campers. That's a large number for a weekend umpire camp.

The instruction featured classroom work with Matt Moore from Referee Magazine and cage work with video review.

I had the privilege of speaking to the campers during the opening session and on day 2 of the camp where I talked, respectively, about professionalism in umpiring and overlooked tips to keep umpires safe when umpiring.

Booth Set-up

At our booth, campers were most interested in New Balance shoes, All-Star umpire gear, poly-wool pants and cold weather items. It is Michigan, of course, so the Majestic Therma Base jacket and gloves were discussed as much as ice fishing and hockey.

NPF Umpire Marc Drouillard instructs

It was nice meeting customers who were campers including JeffC from the Umpire-Empire.com forum.

The camp's instructors were more than hospitable. I enjoyed getting to know Bill, Jack, Gibby, Gary, Scott, Joe, Patti, Linda, Marc, Dan x 2, Erik, Doug, Brad, Jim and the rest of the veteran crew.

Hoye speaks to group on final day

MLB Umpire James Hoye was a featured speaker who spent much of the weekend going from the gyms to the classrooms and sharing insights and stories. James is not only an excellent communicator but an umpire highly interested in helping others improve.

Overall, I was very impressed with the camp, which included both baseball and softball instruction. I hope to promote the camp more for their 2013 season and look forward to making a return trip next year.

A big thanks for your warm welcome.

Posted by Jim Kirk, CEO/President of Ump-Attire.com and avid fan of sports and sports officials everywhere.

The Umpire School's Questions Answered

On the morning of the first opening day of The Umpire School (TUS), having never attended a professional umpire school, I had a number of self-doubting questions in my head as CEO of the official supplier.

I had just arrived with umpire gear and apparel to set up a store at the school run by PBUC (Professional Baseball Umpires Corp), a subsidiary of Minor League Baseball.

Here are the answers:

"Will the store setup be all that TUS or I hoped it would be and can I get it setup before registration starts at noon?"

Yes, I made it!

And because of the store's location, I was afforded the opportunity to welcome students and get to know them a little as I escorted them down the hall to register.

Overall, the store, I felt, was a success. I made it clear to students that they were to look to us as an outfitter (e.g. for thhings forgotten or broken, for upgrades and for advice) and not just a place to sell them stuff.

We opened in the morning the first few days, but then settled into a routine where students could stop by during lunch and dinner.

Students stop by the store on opening day

"Justin Klemm, TUS Executive Director, told me that while I am here, I am considered part of their staff. Can I truly add something?"

I started to realize that my years of experience allowed me to serve as an instructor, of sorts, on proper fit, safety and professional look of students' umpire gear and clothing.

For instance, I enjoyed walking around the cages where students, waiting for their reps, would ask me questions about gear and discuss issues with theirs. I looked for sagging chest protectors and gaps and would help students make adjustments while sharing my knowledge.

Students wore chest protectors on the outside making it easy to observe fit during cage work. Here, MLB Umpire Ted Barrett provides suggestions.

"Will topics I'd like to share be covered already (e.g. The concept of umpires being the 'ambassadors of the game')? Does TUS really want me to share my perspective?"

Yes and Yes. Minor League Baseball President Pat O' Connor set the tone at opening ceremonies by discussing umpires as "defenders of the integrity of the game".

And TUS followed with historical perspectives of umpiring and Hall of Fame umpires through classroom video instruction.

I discussed my perspective of umpiring with a greater purpose - more than just making judgement calls, interpreting the rules and earning a paycheck - in my analogy in my opening talk about quarry workers and cathedral building.

Safe call in unison - day 1

"Will my attempts this week to soak up information and asking lots of questions then sharing my thoughts through this blog and the Good Calls Baseball blog be a little intrusive or annoying?"

The amount of knowledge I gained from just listening in class and observing on the field exceeded my expectations.

As is typical of me, it's my desire to use my reach as an equipment supplier to share my knowledge and experiences with readers and/or customers. Perhaps that makes people better umpires or to enjoy it more. The instructors of TUS and I share that same vision.

Several good posts came out of TUS for the new Good Calls Blog including a series of tips on safety and wellness from TUS medical coordinator, Mark Stubblefield.

My view in the classroom

"Can I provide the leadership back at headquarters while I'm here this week? Can I stay focused here and not be distracted by company and staff needs?"

January is one of my busiest months due to the lead-up to baseball season and the NCAA umpire clinics, but we made it work. It helps having a great, dedicated staff.

Is this post even worth writing? Will anyone even read it?

I think it was. And, yes, the post has been one of the two highest reads on this blog in the past 30 days.

Final Thoughts
The experience I had at The Umpire School was something very special. I miss it already and am ready for the second class in January 2013 to begin.

A sincere thank you to PBUC staff - those guys are outstanding and are providing strong leadership throughout the profession, to Minor League Baseball and to the Vero Beach Sports Village for their hospitality.

(left with Mark Stubblefield and Justin Klemm;
middle with student Cameron Young;
and right with instructors Jeff Gosney and Darren Spagnardi)

More photos | More about The Umpire School

Posted by Jim Kirk, CEO/President of Ump-Attire.com and avid fan of sports and sports officials everywhere.

Now Officially a KHSAA Licensed Apparel Dealer

For as long as I can remember, the KHSAA worked exclusively with one vendor. If I had a quarter for every time I heard a KHSSA official say "when are you guys going to have that contract?", I'd have some good pocket change.

Well, the answer is now! We are now a licensed dealer for KHSAA officials!!! Needless to say, we are very excited to be able to serve the 4,500 Kentucky officals with ALL their apparel needs.

It's not a an exclusive contract. It shouldn't be. Officials don't like to be told where to shop. There will be three licensed apparel retailers, of which, we will be one.

We have some work to do though. Baseball and softball seasons are fast approaching. As this a recent development, we are just are now ordering embroidered hats, shirts and jackets. We hope to have stock for baseball/softball within two and a half weeks then have items available in other sports.

Special thanks to Angela Passiufume, assistant commissioner, who I met with at KHSAA headquarters in Lexington this past Friday to discuss details, and Julian Tackett, commissioner, for placing faith in us to serve their officials.

But more so, thanks to all the officials who have called, e-mailed and talked face-to-face with the powers-that-be at the KHSAA for the last several years and who put in a kind word on our behalf.

Any questions, don't hesitate. More information will be coming to you soon at a section of our website just for you at www.ump-attire.com/khsaa/.

Ump-Attire.com's photostream

Ump-Attire.com's photostream on Flickr.

Welcome Ebony to the Customer Service Team

Ebony at her desk

We'd like to announce our newest Customer Service Representative, Ebony Hall.  

Her personal philosophy,

"I believe that the key to customer service is listening to the customer.

When their concerns are heard and then addressed, a relationship is formed. Building this relationship assures the customer he or she is not just another person calling."

She has a wide range of experience in Customer Service including health care, collections and traditional settings. She is versed in providing excellent customer service and the essence of what excellent customer service means.

Ebony has an Associate’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She is the mother of two children, Rhyan and Rosie, and loves spending time with family and friends.

She has a retail focus. Not only is she a professed shopaholic, she has a dream to start her own women's clothing and accessories business called Retail Therapy. In her words, shopping is "therapy".

Glad to have you on board, Ebony! 

Ump-Attire.com NCAA Clinic Tour 2012

By Brandon Cooper, former AAA umpire, current college umpire and Ump-Attire.com Field Representative.

I just got back from the last trip of Ump-attire.com's 2012 tour of NCAA clinics. I traveled from the bitter cold Chicago, to rainy Atlanta, and to the pleasantly mild temperatures and rare winter sunshine of Philadelphia.
 

Brandon & Chuck Barnett President of SIUA

CHICAGO

I had the pleasure of tagging along with Customer Service Manager, Krista Wolf, for the trip to Chicago. It was a first NCAA conference as a vendor for both of us.

The trip was great. I met a lot of new faces and caught up with some old friends from my days traveling the US umpiring in the Minor Leagues. Krista said she really enjoyed talking to our customers and being able to put a face with names that she has spoken to on the phone or heard from via email or Facebook.

For those of you who asked, if you are unaware we now have the new zip-up Majestic Jacket in stock, and yes the new Poly Wool Pants with Expander Waistband  provide the appropriate amount of room for your shin guards to allow for a comfortable fit.

Brandon shows Billy Williams our new items  

ATLANTA
In Atlanta I pulled double duty, attending the NCAA meetings as an umpire and popping out during the breaks to help Jim Kirk, the coolest CEO around. What other CEO would allow his partner to grab lunch at Hooter's with fellow umpires, while he held down the fort?

It was a busy weekend. I ran into a lot of guys I hadn't seen since last year's meetings and quite a few that I currently work with during the season. Jim got a chance to meet them all. In return, Jim introduced me to quite a few guys I had not met before.

PHILADELPHIA
Ump-attire.com's last stop of the tour was Philadelphia. It was a quick in-and-out trip. Being able to walk straight through the terminal into the Marriott lobby was the most convenient thing I've ever seen; what a great set-up for those of us flying in.

I traveled solo, so I traveled light, but I tried to bring the latest and greatest of our baseball apparel and equipment. I ran into my umpire school roommate that I hadn't spoken to in several years, and I met a ton of new people that I had not previously met in my travels. It was a pleasure meeting and talking to all of you.

That concludes my experiences of the last three weekends. I had a great time! Good luck during the 2012 baseball season. Travel safe, and I will look forward to catching up next January.

If there is anything I can do for any of you please do not hesitate to contact me at brandon@ump-attire.com. And...don't forget about the discount codes given to you at each conference.